Charlie Strong: ‘It’s time to put (Texas) back on the national stage.’

Posted by JJ Stankevitz on January 6, 2014, 12:53 PM EDT

AP

Texas officially introduced Charlie Strong as its head football coach on Monday, marking the first time since 1998 someone other than Mack Brown will coach the ‘Horns.

In his first press conference in Austin, Strong emphasized the tradition of Texas over and over, paying respect to the work put in by Mack Brown and Darrell Royal before him to get the program to where it is — as the most powerful in college football.

“The bricks are there,” Strong said. “I just need to put another brick on top of it.

“… It’s time to put this program back on the national stage.”

Strong likes where Texas is right now, even though the Longhorns haven’t played in a BCS bowl in four years. He got the most fired up talking about recruiting, though, likely a point of emphasis for a coach whose predecessor missed out on back-to-back Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks from the state of Texas.

“We will recruit with fire, and we will recruit with passion,” Strong said. “We are devoted to making Austin the state capitol for college football.”

Strong said he hasn’t made any decisions about his staff, though Orangebloods reported before the press conference that Strong’s defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and strength and conditioning coach from Louisville will join him at Texas.

Reporters hit Strong with some fairly tough questions during the presser, too, including one on reviving the lost rivalry game with Texas A&M. Strong said he’d be interested in playing A&M again in the future, though added: “It’s so hard with the different conferences with that.”

Dealing with the media will be an added task on Strong’s plate in Austin, with the Longhorn Network and large press contingent a major step up from Louisville. Strong seemed nervous and stumbled over his words early on in the press conference — it looked like he was trying to read bullet points off a sheet — but eventually settled in and seemed to get more comfortable as the event rolled on.

Reblogged this on CHARLESOLSONSPORTS.COM and commented:
There is no doubt in my mind that Charlie Strong can handle getting Texas back on track. The only question is, can Strong be the CEO that is required at Texas? Part of this will be on Texas AD Steve Patterson to make things as easy as possible on Strong.

changsteinelgamal says:Jan 6, 2014 1:22 PM

Mack Brown is still a UT employee. That means there is still a CEO type around to gladhand the boosters and politicians if necessary.

11inthebox says:Jan 6, 2014 1:25 PM

” Strong seemed nervous and stumbled over his words early on in the press conference — it looked like he was trying to read bullet points off a sheet — but eventually settled in and seemed to get more comfortable as the event rolled on…”

Wow. This is completely untrue and just your way of trying to create the narrative that you want.

They actually have a good football coach for a change, which should be the goal. If they wanted someone great with the media, I hear Todd Graham, creepy Jerry Jones sounding voice and all, is available. He’s great with the media.

Rockgate- you all definitely got us this year, good luck with Charlie. I was actually a little sad to see Mack Brown go. And thanks, that win against Bama was huge, I live in SEC country now and SEC fans are obnoxious

11inthebox says:
Jan 6, 2014 1:25 PM
” Strong seemed nervous and stumbled over his words early on in the press conference — it looked like he was trying to read bullet points off a sheet — but eventually settled in and seemed to get more comfortable as the event rolled on…”

Wow. This is completely untrue and just your way of trying to create the narrative that you want.

But hey, whatever makes you guys feel good about yourselves.

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I live in Austin and listened to it live. That’s exactly how Strong sounded – like a nervous guy reading bullet points as fast as he possibly could. His words were literally tumbling over themselves.

@11inthebox – don’t know what you’re so freaking sensitive about. Anyone would be nervous in front of that firing squad of TV cameras and reporters and sports bloggers. Except Saban – Saban would lecture them in a scolding manner like a room-full of worthless drunks and drug-addicts (and he wouldn’t be far off the mark, either).

thekingdave says:Jan 6, 2014 7:46 PM

Strong did seem nervous and stumble when reading his prepared statement, but when he took questions and spoke extemporaneously he was solid. You’ve got to laugh at all the stuff about him not being good with the media, not meshing with boosters, and being bad for the LHN. All that crap only slightly matters if he doesn’t win. Winning cures all. We need a guy that is going to develop 22 guys from the state of Texas consistently, and I like what I’ve read about Strong in that regard. Hopefully the days of guys like Jamaal Charles and Jermichael Finley being underutilized are gone.

University presidents and AD’s are politicians. They’ve got coaches by the short hairs, so they have to be careful what they say. Unfortunately.

rsoandb says:Jan 8, 2014 12:24 PM

realfootballfan says:
Jan 6, 2014 1:36 PM
“They actually have a good football coach for a change…”
___________

Strong looks like one of the darlings of the coaching world right now, and he does have a nice 4 year record at Louisville. UT’s alum have short memories. Mack was 158-48 over 15 years, 7-3 in bowl games, and 1 NC. Not many coaches can claim that.